{"id":230043,"date":"2025-07-01T19:10:29","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T19:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/230043\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T19:10:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T19:10:29","slug":"wales-number-one-relishing-leadership-role-ahead-of-euro-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/230043\/","title":{"rendered":"Wales’ number one relishing leadership role ahead of Euro 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is plenty of noise and hype around this Wales team ahead of Euro 2025, and rightly so, but a group of players step away from that every morning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wales\u2019 number one, Olivia Clark, is one of those who is a proud, self-confessed member of the team\u2019s yoga club.<\/p>\n

The dream for those in this small but growing club was to go on a retreat before making history in Switzerland, and Clark was happy to announce they did go away on that break.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did manage to get our yoga retreat in. We got a little yogi club on camp, and we always do yoga and a bit of meditation in the mornings, and in Switzerland, it\u2019s going to go to a whole new level!<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very proud to be part of the yoga club. It\u2019s normally me, Razza, Hayley, Josie, Esther, Hannah, and we have a few who float around. Josie normally leads it and she\u2019s great. She\u2019s training to be a yoga instructor, and she really is our leader in this group.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a part of this Wales team and yoga isn\u2019t your vibe, then there\u2019s plenty of other non-footballing avenues you can turn to.<\/p>\n

Another popular pastime is golf, and Clark was very quick to give praise, but also give advice, to those who love spending time on the fairways.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a growing golfing club here too. Hannah\u2019s video of Ceri\u2019s swing did not do Ceri justice. She is actually quite a good golfer. Lois still has work to do. I\u2019m a keen golfer as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cBook club is another one I\u2019m happy to be a part of. A lot of us have got Kindles now, and at the minute I\u2019m reading Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpace is precious in my Euros suitcase so I can\u2019t be putting too many books in my case. Razza and Josie stressed I should get a Kindle, and really, they should be on commission or something!\u201d<\/p>\n

Clearly the off the field camaraderie in this Cymru side is just as strong as the one on it. Therefore, it will come as no surprise to learn that togetherness is a key theme in the goalkeeping department.<\/p>\n

Wales midfielder Sophie Ingle relieved to be back in time for Euro 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"CARDIFF, WALES \u2013 28 MAY 2025: Wales\u2019 goalkeeper Poppy Soper, Wales\u2019 goalkeeper Soffia Kelly, Wales\u2019 goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel, Wales\u2019 goalkeeper Olivia Clark and Wales Goalkeeper Coach Diego Restrepo during a training session at The Vale Resort in Cardiff on the 28th May 2025. (Pic by Ashley Crowden\/FAW)<\/p>\n

Wales have a rather unusual goalkeeping group. It\u2019s unusual in the fact that it is so young. Clark is 23, as is Poppy Soper, while Safia Middleton-Patel is only 20.<\/p>\n

To head into a major tournament without a traditional \u201cexperienced\u201d older keeper is odd, but it\u2019s a challenge Clark is relishing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good dynamic in the goalkeeping department. It\u2019s obviously different to a lot of places. I\u2019m the senior goalkeeper at the age of 23 which is quite weird for me, and I\u2019ve had to take on more of a leadership role, which was quite hard at the start but now I\u2019m trying to relish it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe likes of Saf, Poppy and Soffia also bring a lot of different qualities and style to the group, and everything is always positive in training. I couldn\u2019t ask for a better group of goalkeepers.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Wales have had an older keeper for years who has welcomed each new keeper into the setup with open arms, and that\u2019s Laura O\u2019Sullivan-Jones.<\/p>\n

The Gwalia United shot stopper has been cruelly ruled out of Euro 2025 with injury. Clark was full of praise for her teammate and says Wales wouldn\u2019t be where they are now without O\u2019Sullivan-Jones.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first came into the setup at 16, Laura was the biggest help to me. She took me under her wing, and I wouldn\u2019t be where I am right now without her. I\u2019m gutted for her that she can\u2019t be in the squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe amount that Laura has done for Welsh football and for Wales is huge. She works a full-time job and still manages to play at the level she does. It\u2019s incredible. I have so much respect for her and her journey. We all look up to her.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s clear to see that O\u2019Sullivan-Jones is an inspiration to many at Wales, but this summer, it could be Clark that inspires the next wave of keepers.<\/p>\n

Throughout Wales\u2019 journey to Switzerland, Clark has made phenomenal stop after phenomenal stop. Slovakia away and Ireland in Dublin were games that cemented her place in Rhian Wilkinson\u2019s starting eleven.<\/p>\n

It hasn\u2019t been the easiest of seasons for Clark. Having started out with FC Twente, she returned to the WSL to join Leicester City. However, her place with Wales has never been in doubt.<\/p>\n

Her call-up to the Euros squad is truly deserved, and she can\u2019t wait to give back to those who have put so much faith in her.<\/p>\n

\u201cRhian rang me the day after the Italy game, and I think I was watching TV at the time wondering if I should take the call. It was a nice call to have, and it was great to hear that I was going to be part of the squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad was buzzing. He was so proud and he\u2019s so excited to go out to Switzerland. All my family are coming out and it\u2019s such a nice moment for them to be able to pay them back for what they\u2019ve done to help me get to where I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden\/FAW)<\/a><\/p>\n

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